Revolving chair.



No. 699,889. Y Patented May I3, |902.'

A. L. MORSELL.'

REVULVING CHAIR.

' (Application med Jan. 6, 1902.; (No Model.)

THE Norms E rsns co., Fumo-LITRO.. WASHINGTON. nys.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR I.. MoRsELL, oF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.-

REVOLVING CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 699-3889, dated May 13, 1902.

Application filed January 6, 1902. Serial No. 88,534. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR L. MoRsELL, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin,haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Revolving Chairs, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in revolving chairs. y

A common form of revolving chair employs a plain or unthreaded spindle depending from the seat-spider and revoluble in an exteriorlythreaded tubular sleeve, the threads of said sleeve engaging the threads of the bore of the hub of the chair, means, most usually a hand- Wheel, engaging the threaded sleeve being provided for turning the sleeve so as to adjust the vertical height of the chair. The objection to this form has been that in the revolving of the chair-seat and its spindle by the occupant of the chair the friction of the spindle against the inside of the tubular sleeve has caused said sleeve to turn in the threaded bore of the base-hub, and thereby change the vertical height to which the chair had been adjusted. Various constructions have been adopted for overcoming this objection; but all such constructions have been of a more or less complicated character, and therefore objectionable on that score and also on account of expensiveness of production.

It is the object of my invention to provide a simple, inexpensive, and improved construction of revolving chair of such character that a positive lock is provided against acci-- dental vertical adjustment and in which thesists of the devices and parts or their equiva- I lents, as hereinafter set forth.

' In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis an elevation of the invention, part being in vertical section. 2 is a horizontahsection on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of construction.

Referring particularly to Figs. l and 2 of the drawings, the numeral 3 indicates the usual hub to which the legs (not shown) of the chair are connected, said hub having its bore screw-threaded. The chair-seat spider is indicated by the numeral 4, and depending from this spider is a smooth or unthreaded spindle 5,said spindle provided longitudinally Witha' recess or groove 6. This spindle fits within an exteriorly-threaded sleeve 7, said sleeve engaging Vthe threads of the bore of the hub. Theupper end of this sleeve is pref erably anged, and between the fiange and the head of the spindle are advisably employed antifriction-balls 8. The sleeve is provided longitudinally with a slot 9. On the top of the hub and preferably surrounding the threaded sleeve is a loose member 10, preferably, although not necessarily, in the form of a ring. Thisrmember is provided with upwardly-extending lugs l1 11, between the lever is in the position shown in the drawings being just long enough to extend into the slot 9, but not long enough to extend into the recess or groove 6 when said recess or groove is in registration with the slot. The long arm of the lever is provided with a dog adapted to engage a suitable stop formed or provided on the top of the hub. In the drawings I show this dog as consisting of a "lug 14, depending from the outer end of the long arm of the lever, and the stop consisting of a recess 15, of which there may vbe a plurality arranged around the top of the hub, as shown in the drawings; lIn the position of the parts shown it is obvious that the threaded sleeve and the loose ring are securely locked to the hub by reason of the engagement of the` depending dog of the long arm of the lever with one of the recesses 15 and the engagement of the short arm of which is pivoted on a pin 12 a lever or equivalent device 13, the short arm thereof when the lever with the slot of the sleeve. It follows that a person occupying the chair-seat may revolve said seat freely without the least danger of the vertical adjustment of the threaded sleeve being disturbed. Now when it is desired to change the vertical adjustment all that is necessary to be done is simply to turn the lever on its pivot, so as to bring the long arm of said lever into engagement with the slot 9. The chair-seat is then turned slightly, -and the moment the recess or groove of the spindle comes `into registration with the slot the said end of the long arm of the lever will drop into engagement also with said recess of the spindle, and thereby lock the spindle, sleeve, and ring together. The sleeve being now released from the hub and the spindle, sleeve, and ring being locked together, all that is necessary to be done in order to change the vertical adjustment is to turn the chair-seat, and the sleeve will be thereby raised or lowered in the hub, in accordance with the direction of turning. XVhen the proper adjustment is secured, the long arm of the level' is thrown outwardly, and the dog will thereby again lock the threaded sleeve as soon as said dog comes into registration with one of the recesses.

\Vhile in the accompanying drawings I have shown and in the foregoing description I have described specific details of construction, yet I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, inasmuch as these specific features may be changed or modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, the broad feature thereof being the provision of means for locking the sleeve to the spindle under one adjustment of said means and locking the sleeve to the hub under another adjustment of said means, one of said adjustments permittingr of the spindle rotating in the hub and the other of said adjustments permitting of the vertical adjustment of the spindle. I also do not wish to be understood as restricting myself to the particular form of stops shown in the accompanying drawings-z'. e., the recesses l-inasmuch as the top of the hub may be provided with any other desirable form of catch or stop for engaging the lever or for engaging a dog or other device connected to or extending from the lever. It is furthermore obvious that any desirable number of stops or catches may be provided on the top of the hub. In fact, it' desired, only one stop or catch may be employed and successful results obtained, inasmuch as it is apparent that the friction of the spindle against the inside of the sleeve can only turn said sleeve in either direction the distance permitted by the contact or engagement of the dog with the stop or catch, and hence it would be impossible for the sleeve to make but one turn in either direction, and thereby the chair would be practically maintained at the height to which it is adjusted.

A great advantage possessed by my invention resides in the fact that when it is desired to adjust the vertical height of the chair-seat all that is necessary to be done is to throw the lever in the proper direction, and the adjustment of the chair-seat can then be accomplished merely by turning said seat without the necessity of stooping down and turning a hand-wheel, as is required in a number of different forms of construction.

\Vhile in the accompanying illustration of my invention I have shown a particular form of locking-lever provided with a depending lug or dog, yet I do not wish to be understood as restricting myself specifically thereto, inasin uch as any desired form of lever or equivalent device capable of being pivoted to a ring or other suitable member and said lever adapted under one adjustmentto engage the recess of the spindle, and thereby lock the sleeve to the spindle, and under another adjustinentto lock the sleeve to the hub is within the spirit and scope of my invention.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings I have shown another form of construction for carrying out the broad feature of my invention, wherein the sleeve, designated in this ligure by the numeral 7', is shown as having its exterior' plain or unthreaded end fitting in the plain or unthreaded bore of the hub. The interior of the sleeve, however, is threaded, and this inte-' riorly-threaded bore is engaged by the exterior threads of the spindle 5. rlhe upper end of the sleeve is advisedly formed with an annular ange to form the ring member 10', which IOO rests on the top ofthe hub (with antifrictionballs 17 preferably placed therebeneath) and is fast to or integral with the upper end of the sleeve. Instead of employing a lever pivoted between its ends to the ring member I show a lever lS, pivoted at one end to said ring member and having its free end provided with the depending dog 19, which is adapted to engage any of the series of stops l5 in the top of the hub. It will be seen that in this form of construction it is not absolutely necessary that the sleeve should be extended upwardly and provided with a slot, as in the other form of construction. In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 3 the free end of the lever 18 is in engagement with the recess 6 of the spindle 5. In this position of the parts the spindle is locked to the sleeve,and hence when the chairseat is turned by the occupant of the chair the spindle and sleeve are rotated together in the hub. If. now it is desired to change the vertical adjustment of the spindle, the lever 18 is thrown downwardly to permit the dog 19 thereof to engage with any of the stops l5. The chairseat can then be grasped and turned, and the spindle will be thereby turned on the threads of the sleeve and either raised or lowered in accordance with the direction of turning.

Vhat I claim as my invention isl. The combination of a hub, a spindle, a member supported by the hub and'revoluble with respect to said hub, two of said parts hav- IIO ing threaded engagemant with each other, and means for locking the revoluble member to the spindle', under one adjustment of said means, to prevent rotation of the spindle iu said revoluble member, tand for unlocking said revoluble member from the spindle, and

locking the same to the hub, under anotheradjustment of said means, one of said adjustments permitting of the spindle rotating without raising or lowering the same, and -th'e other of said adjustments permitting of the vertical adjustment of the spindle.

2. The combination of a hub, a sleeve supported by the hub, a spindle Within the sleeve, two of said parts having threaded engagement with each other, means for locking the sleeve to the hub, and means when the locking mechanism is disengaged from the hub forlocking the sleeve and spindle together in order to prevent rotation of the spindle in the sleeve, one of said adjustments permitting of the spindle rotating Without raising or lowering the same, and the other of said adjustments permitting of the vertical adjustment of the spindle.

8. The combination ot a hub, a sleeve supported by the hub, a spindle within the sleeve, two of said parts having threaded engagement with each other and means for locking the sleeve to the hub under one adjustment of said means, and underanother adjustment of said means to disengage said means from the hub and cause the same to engage and lock the sleeve and spindle together in order to prevent rotation of the spindle in the sleeve, one of said adjustments permitting of the spindle rotating without raising or lowering the same, and the other of said adjustments permitting of the vertical adjustment of the spindle.

4. The combination of a hub, a sleeve supported by the hub, a longitudinally-recessed spindle Within the sleeve,two of said parts having threaded engagement with each other and locking means engaging the sleeve andadapted under one adjustment to also engage the recess of the spindle and thereby lock the sleeve and spindle together, in order to prevent rotation ofthe spindle in the sleeve, and under another adjustment to be disengaged from the recess of the spindle and engage the hub, and thereby lock the sleeve to said hub, one of said adjustments permitting of the spindle rotating without raising or lowering the same, and the other of said adjustments permitting of the vertical adjustment of the spindle.

5. In arevolving chair, the combination of a hub having a threaded bore, an exteriorly threaded and longitudinallyslotted sleeve, the threads thereof engaging the threaded bore of the hub, a longitudinallyrecessed spindle depending from the chairseat andrevoluble in the sleeve, a loose member, a part carried by the loose member, and having one portion thereof, when said part is under one adjustment, adapted to extend-- into the slot of the sleeve, and, when under anotheradj ustment, to have another portion 'thereof adapted to extend-through the slot of the sleeve andinto the recess of the spindle, and'means adapted, when the .portion of said part which engages only the; slot of the sleeve, is in engagement-:with saidfslot, to lock the loose member and the said part carried thereby againstturningb l 6. In a revolving chair, theffcombination of a hub having a'threaded lbore and-provided on its top with a plurality of stops, an exteriorly-threaded and longitudinally-slottedk sleeve, the threads thereof engaging the threaded bore of the hub, a longitudinallyrecessed spindledepending from the chair- 'seat and revoluble in the sleeve, a loose member, a partearried by the loose member, and having one portion thereof, when said part is under one adjustment, adapted to extend into the slot of the sleeve, and having another portion thereof, when said part is under another adjustment, adapted to extend through the slot of the sleeve and engage the recess of the spindle, and means adapted to Y engage any of the series of stops, when the Aportion of said part which engages only the slot of the sleeve is in engagement with said slot, to thereby lock the loose member and the said part carried thereby againstrotation.

7. In a revolving chair, the combination of a hub having a threaded bore, and also pro- Y vvided with a stop, an exteriorly-threaded and longitudinally slotted sleeve, the threads thereof engaging the threaded bore ofthe hub, a longitudinally-recessed spindle depending from the chair-seat and revoluble inthe sleeve, a loose member, a part carried bythe loose member, and having oneportion, when said Vpart is under one adjustment, adapted toextend into the slot of the sleeve, and'having another portion, When said part is under another adjustment, adapted to extend throughl `the slot of the sleeve and engage the krecess IOO IIC

of the spindle, said part also providedwith a Y dog adapted to engage the stop of the hub,

-when the portion'of the said part which engages only the slotis in engagement with said slot, to thereby hold the loose member and the said part which it carries against rotation.

8. In a revolving chair, .the combination` Aof a hub having a threaded bore and alsoprovided with a stop, an exteriorly-threaded and longitudinally slotted sleeve, the threads thereof engaging the threaded bore of the hub,

'a longitudinally-recessed spindle depending from the chair-seat and revoluble in the sleeve, a loose member on the top ofthe hub vandlsurroundingthe threaded sleeve, a'leverpivoted to the loose member, and having itsshortarm,

when-the lever is turned in'one direction,

adapted to extend into the slot of the sleeve, and having its long arm provided Witha depending dog adapted to engage the stopon the hub when the short arm ofthe lever-is engaging the slot of the sleeve, 'the' said longV arm-ofthe lever when the lever is turned in the opposite direction adapted to be thrown into engagement With the slot of the sleeve and also in engagement with the recess of the spindle, when said recess is brought into registration with the slot.

9. The combination of a hub, a spindle, a sleeve supported by the hub, two of said parts having threaded engagement with each other, and means for locking the sleeve to the spindle under one adjustment of said means in order to prevent rotation of the spindle in the sleeve, and for locking said sleeve to the hub under another adjustment of said means, one of said adjustments permitting of the spindle rotating without raising or lowering the same, and the other of said adjustments, permitting of the vertical adjustment of the spindle.

10. The combination of a hub, a spindle, a sleeve supported by the hub, two of said parts having threaded engagement with each other,

a loose member carried by the hub and revoluble thereon, and locking mechanism carried by the loose member and adapted for locking the sleeve to the spindle under one adjustment of the locking mechanism in order to prevent rotation of the spindle in the sleeve, and for locking said sleeve to the hub under another adjustment of said locking means, one of said adjustments permitting of the spindle rotating without raising or lowering the spindle, and the other of said adjustments permitting of the vertical adjustment of the spindle.

In testimony whereof:` I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR L. MORSELL.

Witnesses:

ANNA V. FAUs'r, C. I'I. KEENEY. 

